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Top Court has clarified that Kejriwal's statement were his assumptions and that he will have to surrender on the date fixed by it
The Supreme Court was today informed by the Enforcement Directorate that post his release on interim bail, Arvind Kejriwal has made statements in public which are a "slap on the system".
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told a division bench hearing Kejriwal's plea against ED arrest that, "Court said he will not discuss his role in the case. He is saying, "they say I have to go back to jail in 20 days, if you vote for broom then I will not have to go to jail..."."
"Petitioner treats himself as a special person, we treat him as an ordinary citizen..", SG Mehta added.
In response, Justice Sanjiv Khanna presiding the bench clarified, "That is his assumption, he will have to surrender...our order is very clear...we have fixed the timeline when he will have to surrender..we are not making any exceptions to anybody, what we felt was correct, we have ordered..let's confine ourselves to legal issues..".
"This statement is a slap on the system..", the SG went on to add referring to Kejriwal's statement after being released from jail.
On May 10, Supreme Court of India had granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal allowing him to campaign for Aam Aadmi Party in the General Elections, 2024.
"He will not interact with any of the witnesses and/or have access to any official files connected with the case...", the order read.
A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta has directed the AAP leader to surrender on June 2, 2024.
The granting of interim relief to the Delhi CM saw a lot of resistance from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General SV Raju who were present before court on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate.
Enforcement Directorate had also filed an affidavit arguing that under Prevention of Money Laundering Act alone presently there were many politicians who are in judicial custody, and there was no reason why a special prayer for a special treatment by Kejriwal must be acceded to.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had also argued vehemently against the grant of interim bail to Kejriwal saying an impression was being created that heavens would fall if he is not allowed to campaign.
Case Title: ARVIND KEJRIWAL vs. DIRECTORATE OF ENFORCEMENT
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